KMPDU redeploys 697 Kiambu medical interns after four-month strike stalemate

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has announced the redeployment of 697 medical interns previously stationed in Kiambu County, following a four-month strike that has crippled services and left interns idle.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the union directed the affected interns to collect their redeployment letters from the Ministry of Health (MoH) beginning Monday, September 29, 2025, at 9am.

“Following the letter from the Ministry of Health dated August 26, 2025, indicating that you will be redeployed to different stations in the country by September 15 if the Kiambu strike is not resolved, we would like to communicate that the letters for transfer to other stations are ready,” the statement read in part.

The August 26 letter, addressed to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, had warned that interns would be moved to other counties if the stalemate persisted. The ministry stressed that medical internships are a crucial part of training and could not be held hostage by prolonged county-level strikes.

“All interns currently in Kiambu County are therefore required to collect the redeployment letters from the MoH effective tomorrow, September 29, 2025, from 9am. Failure to collect the redeployment letter and move will be deemed as abscondment of your internship duty by the MoH,” KMPDU stated.

The interns affected include 138 Medical Officer interns, 48 Pharmacist interns, five Dentist interns, 297 BSc Nursing interns, 134 Clinical Officer (Diploma) interns, and 75 Clinical Officer (Degree) interns.

The strike, which began shortly after internships commenced on July 1, has already denied the interns over two months of mandatory training. In its communication to Governor Wamatangi, the Ministry noted that interns in other counties had already begun their rotations, raising concerns of inequality and academic disruption.

Governor Wamatangi, however, has maintained a hard stance, insisting that striking doctors will only be paid once they return to work.

While Kiambu is not the only county grappling with health worker disputes, ongoing talks between the national government, county administrations and KMPDU are expected to chart a way forward and ease recurrent healthcare disruptions.